Made and counted by Wren —

Mesh stitch summer tank top pattern for beginners

4.25mm hook, fingering weight merino-silk: a mesh-and-solid tank with shaped straps for beginners.

BeginnerLevel

6-8 hoursTime

4.25 mmHook

FingeringYarn

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About this pattern

A beginner-level summer tank worked in two flat panels using fingering weight 50% merino, 50% silk yarn and a 4.25mm hook (4.0mm substitute). The 5-round main pattern alternates an open mesh row with a solid double crochet row, worked to 8 and 1/2 inches before a 4-inch (8-stitch) neck opening splits the fabric into two straps worked roughly 13 rows long. Panels are seamed with slip stitches and finished with a darning needle.

This is a two-panel summer tank built from a single 5-round main pattern worked flat, alternating a chain-one mesh row with a solid double crochet row until the front panel reaches 8 and 1/2 inches. Straps form by leaving 4 inches (8 stitches) open at center front for the neckline, then working each side independently for about 13 rows with decreases at the row edges. The back panel repeats the same pattern before the two pieces are slip-stitched together at the shoulders and sides.

The pattern

Written out round by round

Materials

Fingering weight yarn (50% Merino wool, 50% silk)
4.25 mm crochet hook (or 4.0 mm if unavailable)
Measuring tape
Scissors
Darning needle

Abbreviations

ch = chain
st = stitch
sl st = slip stitch
dc = double crochet

Main Pattern

Measure Your Torso: Take the widest part of your torso (commonly the bust area) and get the circumference measurement; divide this by two to get the desired width for your chain start.

Starting Chain: Create a slip knot and chain an even number of chains that matches the width you calculated (e.g., 17 inches); remember to create the chain in multiples of two for the mesh pattern.

Color Changes (Optional): Choose a secondary color and, at the last stitch of a row, start your double crochet and introduce the new color when you have two loops left on the hook to change colors.

At each color change, leave a long tail for seaming.

Round 1Mesh Pattern Setup Double crochet into the sixth chain from the hook; chain one, skip one stitch, and place a double crochet in the next stitch; repeat the mesh pattern (chain one, skip one, double crochet in next) until the end of the row.

Round 2Chain three (this counts as a stitch); turn your work; place two double crochets into the next available double crochet stitch; repeat two double crochets in each available double crochet till you reach the end of the row.

Round 3(Mesh Pattern Repeat): Chain four and turn your work; yarn over, skip the first two stitches, and double crochet into the third stitch; continue the mesh pattern by chaining one, skipping a stitch, and then double crochet in the next.Alternate Row Patterns: Continue alternating between Row 2 and Row 3 until you have the fabric high enough to reach just below the underarm area (about 8 and ½ inches tall).

Creating Straps: Leave a number of stitches in the middle unstitched to create a neck opening (e.g., mark off 4 inches or 8 stitches for neck opening using stitch markers); continue the mesh and double crochet pattern alternately on both sides, creating sections that will act as straps, until it reaches the length that fits over the shoulders; decreases will be made to shape the straps and neckline by skipping stitches at the beginning and end of rows; continue until the strap is the desired length (approximately 13 rows for the strap portion).

Assembly

Step 1Make a second panel following the same pattern to create the back panel.

Step 2Attach the shoulder straps with slip stitches by working through both the front and back panel loops.

Step 3Seam the sides of the tank similarly with slip stitches, ensuring the fit is correct.

Step 4Weave in all the ends with a darning needle.

Step 5Cut any excess yarn and secure it.

Tester's notes

4.25mm is the working hook size; drop to 4.0mm only if the mesh rows measure wider than the calculated half-torso width.

8 stitches (4 inches) marked off at center front is the neck opening — place stitch markers at both edges before splitting into straps so both sides start the decrease rows at the same point.

5 rounds make up the entire main pattern, repeated by alternating Round 2 and Round 3 for the body, so track rows against the 8 and 1/2-inch body height rather than counting rounds alone.

13 rows is the target strap length; check strap length against the shoulder fit directly on the body rather than relying on the row count if torso measurements differ from standard.

Adjust the number of stitches and rows according to your own measurements for a perfect fit.

Use a measuring tape frequently to ensure consistent sizing.

Work in progress

Mesh stitch summer tank top pattern for beginners — photo 2

Mesh stitch summer tank top pattern for beginners — photo 3

At a glance

Rounds	3
Level	Beginner
Time	6-8 hours
Hook	4.25 mm
Yarn	Fingering

Gauge check

After Round 1, lay the mesh row flat and measure its width against the half-torso figure calculated from the torso measurement; the two numbers should match within about half an inch.

If something looks wrong

The two straps end up different lengths.: Each strap is worked separately after the 8-stitch neck split, so row counts drift if one side is worked a stitch short. Count rows against the 13-row strap target on both sides before seaming.
The neckline gapes open or sits too: The 4-inch (8-stitch) neck opening is a starting figure tied to average torso measurements. Recheck the opening against the torso circumference divided by two and resize the marked-off stitches before starting the straps.
The fabric curls at the top edge instead of lying flat.: This happens when the turning chain-three or chain-four at the start of Round 2 or Round 3 is pulled too tight. Loosen the turning chain tension and confirm it matches the stitch height it is meant to count as.

Yarn substitutions

Fingering weight cotton or linen blend	Produces a firmer, less drapey fabric with crisper mesh holes; keep the 4.25mm hook but expect the body to measure slightly shorter than 8 and 1/2 inches at the same row count, so recheck length before splitting the straps.
Sport weight wool	One weight up from the pattern's fingering yarn; size the hook up to around 4.5mm–5mm and reduce the starting chain count, since the same number of stitches will run wider than the calculated half-torso figure.
Fingering weight bamboo or rayon blend	Adds more drape and sheen than the merino-silk blend but less stitch definition in the mesh rows; dropping to the 4.0mm hook keeps the fabric from going slack.

Original pattern: https://crocheteverything.com/summer-crochet-tank-for-beginners-tutorial/

FAQs

Questions

How is the correct starting chain length figured out before beginning Round 1?

Measure the torso at its widest point, usually the bust, then divide that circumference by two. Round the result up or down to the nearest even number since the chain needs to be in multiples of two for the mesh pattern.